Understanding the primary function of each personality type certainly helps give a better idea of how they respond to and take in information. Their dominant function is definitely going to be what stands out the most and is represented to the world around them. While the dominant function works in combination with your other functions, it is still the one which helps people signify your personality and is often what is presented outwardly. It is definitely the lead function in making decisions and in helping to form a strong sense of self. While understanding all of the functions and how they work together is truly important, knowing someone’s primary function is certainly the first step to knowing them a bit better.

The INTPs dominant function is their introverted thinking (Ti) which is very much based on information and internal thought processes. They have a lot going on inside of their minds, and a lot of this is processing and analyzing data. For the INTP it is important to process things on their own terms, rather than trying to trust in what other people believe and express to them. This Ti makes the INTP amazing when it comes to problem solving and analysis, especially with information they are inspired by. This is their primary function, but it is used alongside their other functions and this combination is what makes the INTP respond to the world in their own unique ways.

How Ti Works

Introverted thinking (Ti) is used as an internal framework which helps the user navigate the world around them. These complex systems inside of their minds are how the Ti user sees and understands the world. It helps them to make decisions and come to logical conclusions about what they see and experience. They are constantly modifying this when new information is uncovered, willing to absorb new facts and details and adjust how they view things because of it. They are constantly weighing new information against their already existing model, wanting to be sure that everything works and makes logical sense. If information doesn’t seem to fit into this internal system, the Ti user will reconsider how they are processing things in order to uncover where the inaccuracies are. This helps them to become amazing problem solvers, always prepared to look at the details and uncover ways of ensuring that they can fix whatever is going wrong. They are not afraid of approaching a new situation, where others might need to look at things which have been done before in order to find solutions. Instead the Ti user doesn’t need proven methods, since they operate based on this internal thinking system rather than something external. Since their knowledge is not based on what others have accomplished in order to figure out answers, the Ti user can problem solve using their own inner minds and understanding of the information in front of them. This Ti is amazing at uncovering problems and finding solutions which will be more efficient and work in a long-term manner. They are always searching for ways to improve processes, wanting to uncover the most precise and accurate means of solving the problems they find. This Ti is constantly searching for better means of understanding the world and how things work, as well as finding the best ways to navigate the world with strategies and solutions.

Ti In INTPs

For the INTP their use of Ti is part of what makes them such naturally analytical people. They spend a lot of time inside of their own minds, sifting through information and searching for better ways to understand what they have learned. They actively search out different layers of knowledge, and uncover patterns between all of the things they see and uncover. For the INTP it is important to understand things on a deeper level, as well as find ways to connect this information to other processes and patterns. INTPs do not favor things which are standardized and don’t search for proven methods in order to comprehend or understand the way things work. These methods become overused for them, and are not connected to their own Ti or inner framework in the ways that they appreciate. They can seem like rule breakers, since INTPs don’t just follow automated processes and would rather focus on what is most logical to them. So many rules and laws can seem absurd to the INTP, especially when they see a much more rational and efficient means of doing things. They follow their own inner system of thinking and processing information, rather than turning to others and what is expected of them. It is much more about personalized methods, which are very important to the INTP.

INTP Functions

It is important to recognize the other functions of the INTP in order to understand how they relate to their Ti. Their auxiliary or secondary function is extraverted intuition (Ne), which works closely with their introverted thinking function. This helps the INTP to see patterns and pick up information from the outside world in order to understand how things work better. Their Ti is constantly analyzing information and taking in facts, while their Ne observes the many patterns and connections which can be made between all of these details. The use of their extraverted intuition is actually very important to how the INTP develops this inner framework of Ti. It helps them find all of those various connections, and causes the INTP to bounce around from idea to idea. They can explore so many different options and potential outcomes of a situation, and work through these various paths in order to uncover which one makes the most logical sense. INTPs value information and want to understand how things work on a much deeper level. They don’t just accept things at face value, instead they want to take the time to dig deeper and uncover the layers that most people would miss out on.